Occasionally parents or carers may wish to send their children to a school which is not in their school catchment area.
If you want your child to attend a school outside your catchment area, you can submit a placing request to the education authority. Your child must first be enrolled at their local catchment school.
Primary and secondary school placing requests for the August 2027 session must be received between 11 January 2027 and no later than 31 January 2027.
Decisions will be issued no later than the end of April 2027.
Please note that if you choose a school outside your catchment area, free school transport will not be provided.
Placing request appeals
If your placing request is refused by the Director of Education and Skills and Chief Education Officer, you can appeal in writing within 28 days of receiving the decision.
An Appeals Panel, arranged by the Appeals Committee, will hear your case.
The panel includes:
- one elected member
- two parent council representatives
- a legal officer who will attend to provide advice to the panel
The panel will decide whether to uphold or reject your appeal.
If you are still unhappy with the decision, you can make a final appeal to the Sheriff Court within 28 days of being told the panel's decision.
Find out more about education appeals
Apply for a school placing
To apply for a school placing request please complete the below form.